Public hospitals to ban visitors, no new Sars cases in S'pore

Straits Times ^ | April 27, 2003

[Lessismore]

SINGAPORE -- All six public hospitals here will ban visitors from Tuesday, the health ministry said in a statement on Sunday. No new Sars cases were reported on Sunday for the first time since the outbreak began here more than six weeks ago.

But one more death due to severe acute respiratory syndrome was reported on Sunday.The latest fatality was vascular surgeon, Dr Alex Chao - the only child of the late forensic pathologist Dr Chao Tzee Cheng - who died on April 22 but was not classified as a Sars death until Sunday, a health ministry statement said.

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His death is the 22nd in Singapore out of 199 cases.

The ban on visitors to hospitals is a reaction to data that revealed 38 per cent of Singapore's 199 cases have been hospital visitors.

The only exception will be departments or hospitals treating children or providing obstetric care. Patients in those facilities will be allowed one visitor per day.

'Anything we can do to keep the situation under control, we will do it,' Health Minister Lim Hng Kiang said at a press conference.

The Health Ministry also said that 131 of the 199 reported Sars cases here have been discharged.

Earlier on Sunday, the National Environmental Agency (NEA) said in a statement it plans to close 134 food centres and 80 markets island-wide in a massive disinfecting exercise to prevent the spread of Sars.

There are also 2,836 people under home quarantine following an outbreak at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Market, which is closed until next week.

The NEA said there was no danger of environmental transmission, but it said the cleanup was 'essential to improve personal and environmental standards to minimise the risk of transmission.'

[Lessismore]

Small, highly-educated, well-disciplined Singapore appears to be adopting sufficiently Draconian measures to stop the spread of SARS.

[friendly]

The latest fatality was vascular surgeon, Dr Alex Chao - the only child of the late forensic pathologist Dr Chao Tzee Cheng - who died on April 22 but was not classified as a Sars death until Sunday, a health ministry statement said. His death is the 22nd in Singapore out of 199 cases.

22/199 X 100% = Death rate of 11%. The damage and disability to the survivors is horrific in many cases. They may have survivied, but are still often really sick.

Good news is that it can be contained. Thanks, Singapore for showing us the way.